Learn which dishes work best for a big group, how much food you need and more

Hosting a Full House

Hosting a Full House

Inviting over a group of guests always sounds like fun. But if you’re like many a hostess, the to-dos and “what-ifs” (“What if I don’t make enough?” “What if someone doesn’t eat meat?”) of feeding a hungry bunch can send even a calm cook into panic mode. “Stress levels naturally run a bit higher when you’re having a party,” says Dawn Simmons, a cooking instructor in Dallas and author of Cooking For Crowds For Dummies. “Planning is the key to alleviating a lot of anxiety, and if you have a great time, your guests will, too.” Here, how to serve with success.

Stick to tried-and-true fare.

Stick to tried-and-true fare.

Sifting through your pile of “recipes I must try one day” for something that will wow? Unless you have a backup entrée (and why put that extra stress on yourself?), rely instead on meals you can (almost) cook with your eyes closed. Experimenting with new dishes or complicated recipes ups the chances for problems, says Simmons; you should always test-run recipes before serving them to a group. If you’re absolutely dying to make something new, stick with an appetizer or dessert as part of an assortment of other reliable recipes—not a dish the entire meal depends on.